(1Peter 2:3) “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
The bible is full of words that read the same to all and yet means something totally different. I am not making reference to “bias manipulation”, where we may look to exploit scripture and place a false spin on it. Let’s now deal with specifics; God is sovereign and therefore everything and everyone is subject to His rule, whether we agree or not! It does not change this truth. – “Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (Exodus 4:11) - It is obvious that God has total Sovereignty over all our God given abilities, both saved and unsaved alike. Let us call this common grace, as it is common to all, even those who despise the Lord Jesus have voices to influence their opinions at will, how often on a daily basis are we exposed to our great Saviours name being blasphemed? We must clearly understand God has so permitted it, for now! When people, such as philosophers or scientist speak about creation and it origin with so-called new found evidence tying their utmost to prove their theory and it confuses millions if not billions of the population, God has allowed their voices to bellow lies, for now! He is Sovereign. Why one may ask? He is working out His plan according to His will and His purpose, even if some things along the way are difficult for us to understand. He is in perfect control, in fact so in control that it would be impossible for His plan to fail! So then a verse like Romans 8:28 will prove my point; “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) – Believers as well as unbelievers will read this verse and it will be understood differently, it will cause the unbeliever to question God’s sovereignty, why this or why that? Whilst on the other hand the believer will understand that so long as they rest in the Sovereignty of God, even though they may not understand all things, they will find comfort in this verse. The same verse with two different outcomes! Although both may pick up the bible and read, it will be life to the one but Braille to the other.
What do I mean with my opening statement? This is what I mean; most of the human population have their sight, they are able to see and yet the Lord referred to many parables whilst amongst the masses; “And he told them many things in parables, saying...” (Matthew 13:3)
When you read God’s Word is it but a parable, a nice distant story or does it give you direction and give you life and life more abundantly, does it fuel the hope within? “If” is a word that appears often throughout scripture, but what does it mean to you. The way we live our lives will speak louder than words! I leave you with this thought...
“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” – (1Peter 2:3)
“If:-then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. “If:”-then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. “If:”-then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favour which may not be a matter for heart-searching.
But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an “if” about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer’s heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no “perhaps” and “peradventure” and “if” and “maybe” satisfy thy soul. Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. Let thine anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary “ifs;” abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and honey. - (C.H.Spurgeon)
So then “If” plays a major role in our lives, but for those who haven’t tasted that the Lord is Gracious, fall to your knees and call upon the name of the Lord and find life, for “If” you don’t you shall surely taste death.
Signing off
Tyrone
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